Metformin in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Last updated: June 29, 2007
Sponsor: University Hospital, Aker
Overall Status: Trial Status Unknown

Phase

2/3

Condition

Liver Disease

Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Treatment

N/A

Clinical Study ID

NCT00303537
AkerU3
  • Ages 20-70
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The study evaluates the use of the antidiabetic medicine metformin in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Histologically proven NAFLD less than 18 months prior to inclusion. For those withpure steatosis, ALAT or aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) must be elevated above theupper limits of normal, and impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus type 2must be present.

  • Body weight within +/- 5 kg compared with the weight at the time of biopsy.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Treatment for more than 1 week with metformin or glitazones the last 6 months beforeinclusion.

  • Treatment with insulin.

  • Hypersensitivity to metformin.

  • Treatment with cimetidine.

  • Heart failure requiring pharmacological treatment.

  • Coronary heart disease (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class 3 or 4).

  • Chronic obstructive lung disease (moderate or severe).

  • Breast-feeding or pregnant.

  • Metabolic acidosis.

  • Renal failure (male [♂]: creatinine > 135 micromol/L, female [♀] > 110 micromol/L).

  • Average alcohol consumption > 24 g/day the last year.

  • Serum ALAT or serum ASAT > 5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) at screening.

  • Cirrhosis.

  • Platelets < 100 000.

  • Haemochromatosis.

  • Alfa-1-antitrypsin-deficiency.

  • Wilson's disease.

  • Thyroid dysfunction (0.2 mU/L < thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] < 5.0 mU/L).

  • Chronic infection with hepatitis B or C virus or HIV.

  • Autoimmune hepatitis (antinuclear antibodies [ANA] > 1/256 or smooth muscle antibodies [SMA] > 1/128).

  • Primary biliary cirrhosis (antimitochondrial antibodies [AMA] > 1/64).

  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis.

  • Previous participation in another clinical trial the last 6 months.

  • Legal incapability.

Study Design

Total Participants: 90
Study Start date:
November 01, 2004
Estimated Completion Date:
June 30, 2008

Study Description

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent disorder associated with insulin resistance. Metformin is a drug that has been used for several decades in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Metformin is known to improve insulin sensitivity. Some authors have reported beneficial effects of metformin in NAFLD, others have not been able to reproduce these findings. Only a few randomized controlled studies have been published so far, and there is still need for controlled trials with sufficient power to assess the efficacy of metformin in this condition.

The aim of this study is to see whether treatment with metformin for 26 weeks results in reduction of liver steatosis (primary endpoint) and reduction in grade of inflammation in those with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (secondary endpoint).

Connect with a study center

  • Haukeland Universitetssykehus

    Bergen,
    Norway

    Site Not Available

  • Aker University Hospital

    Oslo,
    Norway

    Site Not Available

  • Akershus University Hospital

    Oslo,
    Norway

    Site Not Available

  • Universitetssykehuset i Nord-Norge

    Tromsø,
    Norway

    Site Not Available

  • Universitetssykehuset i Nord-Norge

    Tromsø,
    Norway

    Site Not Available

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